SEIU Local 6

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“We overcame our fears because we were united as workers. With SEIU, janitors had the power to beat the rich, powerful companies.”
– Jesus Lopez, former supermarket janitor who was part of the lawsuit

Janitors are Fighting Back Against Unfair Employers — and Winning with SEIU

Employers are more determined than ever to exploit their workers, especially hard-working immigrants in janitorial jobs. But janitors and SEIU are fighting back.

Janitors Beat Supermarkets, Win $22.4 Million
In a landmark settlement announced Jan. 24, four major national supermarket chains—Safeway, Vons, Albertsons, and Ralph's—will pay 2,000 janitors a total of $22.4 million for unlawful employment practices. These supermarkets subcontracted their janitorial work to companies that failed to pay their employees according to overtime and minimum wage laws.

What You Can Do:
Join SEIU in Fighting Back

1. Report violations of your rights. If you think your employer may be violating your legal rights concerning your pay and breaks, take our confidential survey for janitors, or call the SEIU hotline at 1-866-339-6320.

2. Join a union. The only way for janitors to make sure our employers follow the rules is to form a union with SEIU. With SEIU, janitors gain the protections against these abuses that a union contract provides. Learn more about joining SEIU. For more information about joining SEIU, call our local union office.

The janitors, many of whom were paid as little as $2.47 an hour while working at the supermarkets, will receive as much as $10,000 each from the settlement.

Lawsuit's Message: Corporations Will Be Held Accountable
The supermarkets' scheme was uncovered by SEIU which conducted an investigation over a number of years. After the supermarkets took no action to correct their practices, SEIU helped janitors pursue legal action.

The settlement set a national precedent by showing that big corporations will be held accountable when they use subcontractors to skirt the law and exploit workers, especially immigrant workers.
Download a leaflet about the win, and share the news with your coworkers.
Read more about how SEIU is leading the effort to police this industry and expose unscrupulous employers who exploit workers.